Seeing Red !  

Whilst the Lincolnshire Road Car's basic colour scheme of green has seen many modifications over the years, odd vehicles have appeared in completely contrasting liveries.  In most instances this was due to them being acquired from other companies and entered into service prior to repainting into fleet livery.  The photographs below illustrate some of these.

In 1973 the LRCC acquired two ECW bodied Bristol LD5Gs from Eastern Counties.  They were registered VVF 192 and VVF 207 and allocated LRCC fleet numbers 2301 and 2302.  2301 is pictured in the photograph at the Winthorpe Avenue bus stop on a rather wet day in 1973 whilst returning on service 95 from Ingoldmells to Skegness.  A somewhat apoplectic journalist mentioned these in a regular feature in the Skegness Standard (30.05.73):     KEEP THEM GREEN  : WE USED to have cream buses in the summer in addition to the usual green ones.  They vanished from the scene and now we have red ones with Natureland adverts and "Lincolnshire " on the side.   This it seems is the result of the link up with other companies under the "National" umbrella.  They're obviously swopping(sic) buses amongst themselves without bothering to repaint them.   I hope the red ones seen here at the weekend will get repainted eventually and that all Lincolnshire buses will stay green.   Different colours are useful if they mean something.  The long distance buses are white, which is sensible if it's necessary to distinguish them at a glance.   London Transport use red and green for town and country services, but that hardly applies here.   Green seems to suit Lincolnshire.  It's a nice restful colour in keeping with the rural nature of our county and the relaxing image of our coast.     As it transpired, these vehicles were returned to Eastern Counties later that year.    

In 1984 Bristol VR/ECW 1715 (CBV 13S) is seen outside the now demolished Gaiety Theatre at Butlin's in Ingoldmells.  This vehicle was acquired from Ribble in 1984.  Interestingly, the Lincolnshire fleetname is on a green background !    

With open bonnet, ex United Bristol FLF 2718 (LHN 220D) which spent a year in the LRCC, is parked at Scunthorpe bus station in 1978.  It was to be an interesting year for acquisitions, included in the list were:  2 x Bristol RE/ECWs from National Travel (South East);  2 x Bristol FS6B/ECWs from Southdown (converted to open top for the Skegness Seafront Service);  8 x Bristol FLF/ECWs from West Riding;  6 x Leyland PDR1/Weymanns from Trant (which also ran in red livery);  3 x Bristol FLF ECWs from United and 4 x Leyland PDR1/Roes from West Riding.    

In 1984 Bristol VR/ECW 1707 (KKY 841P) is seen at the erstwhile St. Mark Bus Station in Lincoln prior to departure at 1105.  It was acquired from Yorkshire Traction that year.  Note the destination display which reads "606 LEICESTER".  The route number is in fact incorrect and should read X66 which was a short-lived  stage carriage service between Lincoln and Birmingham via Grantham, Melton Mowbray, Leicester (and just about everywhere else en-route, hence the end-to-end journey time was a total of just under four hours !)  The 0710 and 1105 ex Lincoln worked as far as Leicester and the 0905 and 1605 worked through to Birmingham Digbeth Coach Station.     

A Leyland National in red in 1984 at the Lincoln st. Marks Bus Station.  NRH 166P (2834) was acquired from East Yorkshire that year.    

Well away from its home territory (c 1986) is Yorkshire Traction VR SHE 819M which was on loan to the LRCC.  It is seen at Skegness Richmond Drive Bus Station prior to departure to Spalding on route 507.  Note the destination board in the front window and addition of RoadCar fleet name.    

Bristol FLF/ECW 2714 (HHY 181D) at Scunthorpe Bus Station in 1978.  It was acquired from West Riding that year but was new to Bristol Omnibus.  It is seen on a Scunthorpe Town service 303 with the rather unhelpful "SERVICE" displayed as a destination.  Thankfully such practices as have long cease and no longer do we see and buses displaying the aforementioned and other classics as "RELIEF", "PRIVATE" and "DUPLICATE".  Occasionally buses with displaying the latter would not even display a route number - no wonder people would frequently cath the wrong service !

A splendid view of two of the six ex Trent Weymann-bodied Leyland PDR1/1s. 2302 (66 LCH) had been repainted into green whilst sister 2308 (71 ACH) retains its red livery.  Another view of 71 ACH is seen below as it emerges from the gloom of DOncaster South bus station on a service 106 to Scunthorpe.

A later acquisition from Trent in 1995 was 1374 (LRB 584W) a Leyland Atlantean with ECW bodywork and one of several of the type Road Car acquired that year.  A rather unorthodox "Road Car" fleet name vinyl has been applied to the side.    

1971 (HWJ 942W) was acquired from Yorkshire Traction c1992 and converted to open top.  It was subsequently repainted into an all-over-advertising livery for Pleasure Island Cleethorpes.  On one occasion it was used on the Butlin's run and was immediately ordered off the camp by staff and barred never to return for advertising a rival !  Interestingly, it was later re-roofed (using the roof from another VR) and used on normal services prior to withdrawal.    

Had Road Car been acquired by Stagecoach instead of Yorkshire Traction this might have been a commonplace view !  Leyland National 2315 (CHH 215T) was acquired from Cumberland in 1993 and entered into service prior to repainting.  This sparked off a lot of rumours that Road Car and Yorkshire Traction had been taken over by Stagecoach !  

Acquired from Yorkshire Traction in 1994 was 1759 (RWA 859R). It is seen that year at Newark bus station whilst still in its former owner's livery.

The same year, 1735 (KKY 835P) was acquired from Yorkshire Traction although originally with Strathtay Buses - it is seen in the latter operators livery at Newark in 1994.